Improvement in suspension device for lamps



H. WEED. Device for Suspending Lamps.

Patented Nov. 13, 1866.

W/TWESS UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIeE.

HARRISON WVEED, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT iN SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR LAMPS, 80c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 59,689, dated November 13, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRISON WEED, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement, being an Adjustable Suspension Fixture for Lamps and Chandeliers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings of the same, in which-- Figure 1 represents an elevation of the fixture by which the lamp is suspended. Fig. 2 represents a top view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section at the line 00 m of Fig. 2, and Fig. at represents a similar section at the line 1 l of Fig. 2.

The fixture represented in the accompanying drawings consists of a basket or hanger, A, of a semi-globular and semi-conical form, cast and embellished as represented or in any other style to suit the fancy of the maker. It is designed to be secured to the ceilings of rooms or other elevated places which admit of the suspension of lamps, and may be fastened by screw-bolts passing through the holes 13 or by any-other suitable and convenient means. This basket or hanger contains and incloses the device for suspending and automatically elevating the lamp; and this device consists of a spirally-grooved cone, C, mounted upon a horizontal and eentrallylocated shaft, D, to which it is permanently fixed, the shaft having suitable bearings a in the sides of the basket. The cone is cast hollow, and has its apex next to the bearing of the shaft, while between its base and the opposite end of the shaft there is space enough for the arrangement of a spring, E, coiled closely round the shaft, with one end secured thereto, while the other end is attached to a horizontalrod, F, secured to the top of the basket. A chain, G, is secured to the base of the circumference of the cone, and the grooves are formed by a deep spiral rib, H, traversing it from apex to base, into and around which groove the chain is wound and unwound according as the lamp, which is suspended to the end of. the chain beneath the basket, may be raised or lowered. In winding and unwinding the spring within a small compass round the shaft its tension very materially changes,

and to compensate for this varying force of the spring the cone round which the chain is wound is graduated to suit the changing tension of the spring in raising and lowering the lamp, whereby the power of the spring remains uniform whether wound or unwound, and is therefore better adapted to the raising and lowering of the lamp by hand. As the lamp is suspended to the lower end of the chain beneath the fixed basket the chain, of course, must pass through an opening in the side of said basket. This opening I is of an oblong shape, and of a length equal to that of the cone. It is not perpendicularly directly beneath the side of the cone, but its lowest edge is some distance outside of a vertical line drawn from the circumference of the groove of the cone for a purpose to be presently described. The lowest side of this opening I is provided with teeth J of suitable form and number, which extend horizontally outward, and the chain is constructed of open links, so that they may catch into and fit over the teeth at any point at which it is desired to suspend the lamp.

Now, it will be observed that the chain between the holding-teeth and the lamp hangs perfectly vertical, and that portion between said teeth and the cone inclines backward from the teeth, as shown in Fig. 3, and that this arrangement and relation of the teeth to the chain and the cone causes the chain to constantly incline upon the teeth, so that its connection therewith is more certain and the lock is more secure. When, therefore, it is necessary to elevate or lower the lamp the chain must be moved out of its perpendicular position, so as to disengage it with the projecting teeth J and to clear the chain therefrom, when the lamp, being free, may rise or be lowered as required, and again locked by inclining against the teeth of the basket, when it will engage itself therewith automatically and se curely, thus rendering the lamp secure in whatever position it may be suspended. In thus suspending the lamp so that it can rise out of the way automatically when released, and be lowered by simply pulling it down, it becomes a drop-light, and possesses all the advantages and conveniences of such.

It will be observed that the projecting teeth What I'claim as my invention isv are arranged parallel to the angle of thecone, Retaining a lamp or burner, which ascends so that as the chain is wound and unwound it automatically, in any position to which it may will always maintain the same relative posibe adjusted, by the means and in the manner tion to the teeth, whether at the base or apex substantially as described.

of said cone.

It is obvious that instead of the basket the HARRISON WEED.

holder of the elevating device may consist of an open bracket-frame, in which the cone may Witnesses: be mounted, and in which the teeth may main- Gr. WEED,

tain the same relative position thereto as rep-' E. BLACICMAN.

resented in the basket. 

